Santa Fe Railway Southern Division

Sunday, 14 January 2018

It is hard to believe that it is almost two months since my last post. So much has happened since then. We have packed up and moved into our new house and still lots to do. Just got the landline phone in on Saturday, waiting for ADSL internet (using a mobile devise for a while) and Foxtel due tomorrow. I have done some work towards getting the double car garage up to my way. Two lots of high storage racks have been installed (one on either side) new small work bench in and my new spray booth is almost ready to fire it's first shot.
Lots more to move once we get full title of the house until then its about as much as we are permitted to do.

These racks are on the L/H/Side some stuff seen here already gone to Salvo's

So what have I been up to before hand. Making a few Rail Line and Durango Press kits for my upcoming HOn3 layout that will go around three of the walls. This should suit me I hope but never say never or Over My Dead Body.
Here is a few picks of some progress.

These kits look quite complicated at first however once you get underway they are quite nice to do. The Rail line kits (the box car) has preformed grab irons whilst the Durango Press Gons well you have to roll your own and the is a lot. Thank goodness I have The Wedge it makes making grab irons a breeze.

On Saturday I finally got to Barry's place to paint the backdrop on his new HOn3 Layout. Boy is he doing a fine job, the layout looks fab. Whilst there I took just a couple of pics so see below.

This is the main portion of backdrop I painted. Copied straight from a pic off the D&RGW.

Saturday, 18 November 2017

I had the pleasure some time back to visit Grahams layout and just had to ask if it was okay to do a video.The amount of detail Graham is putting into his layout is simply amazing. When you take a look at the video take note of the scale linkage that runs from the signal box along side the track and over to the signals and turnouts. Then look even harder at the scale signals themselves which are a direct copy of those seen on our Victorian Railways. The station buildings and the pedestrian crossing are just a few of the details that have all been faithfully reproduced.
Grahams layout as you will see is far from being finished but boy is it going to be something when he gets there.

Saturday, 28 October 2017

This video was taken way back in 2014 on Noels, West Coast Mining Model Railroad.
Large companies like BHP and RioTinto just to name two operate some of
the worlds largest iron ore mines and longest trains in the world.
Noel has created a miniature version of what goes on in Australia's far North West iron ore mining territory in half of his double garage. The room is sealed and the air inside controlled for heating and cooling. Special lighting effects have been employed to create the look of a hot 50C degree day or that of an operating mine site at night.
Lots of unique N Scale locomotives can be seen as a result of Vics work in helping Noel create the famous Pilbara Cab by etching them in brass along with the radiators and fuel tanks. Special paint schemes have been employed on 15 locomotives that I had the pleasure of painting way back.
Noel has then had a logo designed with decals being made and applied to these locos.
The unique ore cars have been kitbashed by slicing Kato and other brand cars to the length required then sanding and painting.
The layout has the ability to load and then unload real iron ore using a scratch built loader and unload-er. Unfortunately not shown in this video.
Special work has been done on the couplers to allow each car to rotate whilst being unloaded without the cars on either side tipping by adapting fishing swivel hooks.
I hope you enjoy viewing this unique model railroad.

Thanks to all for watching my videos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy putting them together.
Rod.

Thursday, 19 October 2017

Over the past several years several friends have gathered each Friday to talk, drink tea and coffee have lunch and play trains. One such layout we get to run on is Grahams KCS Mexican Division.
Many years ago when we first met at Grahams house he asked several of us that had been modeling in N for many years what he could do to improve his layout.
As you can imagine suggestions came from all around the round table and within minutes a new track plan was drawn on a piece of paper and the rest is history.
Graham has put a lot of effort into his KSC Mexican Division even going to the trouble of extending his layout room, adding carpet tiles, air conditioning and a crew room.
I have not had a chance of late to video the newer sections of his railroad however the portion I have done is included in the video below.
So sit back and watch as we follow a couple of trains on the KCS Mexican Division.

I trust you enjoyed the journey as much as I have of putting this video together.

Wednesday, 27 September 2017

Filming of this and the next several videos were taken back in 2014 on Peter Sutton's beautiful HOn3 model RR.The Los Pinos & Toltec RR is housed in its special room in Peters back yard. The room is fully lined along with vinyl flooring and air-conditioning. Most of the Locos and rolling stock are Blackstone with some brass locos lurking around. Peter creates his own rock molds by using large pieces of coal which are then in turn used to create his fantastic rock work.
Shinohara code 70 track and hand made turnouts is used throughout. Special control panels around the layout use LED's to show the positions of trains when in staging.
N.C.E. brand DCC is used to control the trains.
There will be several parts to add to my blog over coming weeks so sit back and admire Peters Los Pinos & Toltec RR.
A great deal more work has been done to scenery since these videos were taken and we will get to see that as this series continues.

Tuesday, 19 September 2017

The Puffing Billy three foot Gauge Railroad is situated in the Dandenong Ranges approximately 50 kilometers East of Melbourne. The railroad was built to assist farmers and graziers who moved out of Melbourne in the 1980's move produce to and from markets in Melbourne.
Following a landslide way back in the 50's the RR which was then owned by the Victorian Railways was shut down due to a lack of funds and desire.
A determined group of volunteers set about to lobby the State Government and the railways and after many years were able to form a group of people willing to take the project on. Finally after many years the VR handed control over to this group and so this famous RR was once again underway. After many years of hard toil the Puffing Billy was re-opened to the public and has not looked back since.
Today Puffing Billy is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Victoria with hundreds flocking to have a ride on this world famous Narrow Gauge Railroad each and every day.The model.
Alan Rockett's Puffing Billy layout just has to be seen to be believed. Those of us that have had the good fortune to do so come away in amazement the way Alan has truthfully captured the look and feel of this iconic RR.
All of Alan's locomotives, rolling stock, buildings along with the horse drawn coaches, horses and many many other items are all scratch built. His rendition of the iconic Australian Gum tree that grows in the hill around Belgrave and all through the Dandenongs are masterpieces.
So sit back and watch as I have tried to capture to excellence of Alan's work.